Presentation 27

In approaching this passage, it may prove helpful to stand back from it in the way in which one stands back from a large oil painting, in order to ask, "What are the great themes that the artist is trying to convey?" The passage causes us to ask at least 3 basic questions:

1. What we are aiming for in our worship? 2. What means are we using to achieve it?3. What influence does our worship have on others?

Introduction

We know that the Corinthians sought to outdo one another in the matter of spiritual gifts. They wanted to show that their gift was bigger and better than any other. This attitude seems to have carried over into worship. Services became stage performances, little more than ego trips.

In order to correct these grave deficiencies Paul has in ch 13 argued for the supremacy of love without which all our Christian service, is a complete and total waste. Only when our zeal and desire to serve in Christ's church is subordinated to love can we with safety pursue spiritual gifts.

The Aim of Worship

When we make love our aim our spiritual ambition is channelled to pursue those gifts that will benefit others most. We are no longer concerned to possess gifts that will bring us personal gratification or enhance our reputation in the eyes of those naive enough to believe that the greater number of spectacular gifts possessed the greater one’s spirituality.

On this basis Paul directs them to, "Eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy” v1-2. Note in passing that this apostolic directive, is one that some in the charismatic movement ignore, when they encourage Christians to pursue, in particular, the gift of tongues.

The Aim of Worship

Paul was convinced that prophecy was infinitely more valuable to the church because it was comprehensible and was directed towards nurturing the congregation [v2]. What did Paul mean by prophecy?

Some think he meant prophetic preaching. But did Paul, who apparently wanted all the Corinthians to possess this gift, envisage a church composed wholly of preachers?

Others say it refers to a God-given ability to apply the significance and relevance of scripture to one another. Though one would want to ask how that was possible for at that time the N.T. had not been written?

The Aim of Worship

Others think that prophecy in this context was a direct revelation of God’s will to men. But this fails to take account of scripture's claim, that the coming of Christ, and the apostolic interpretation of his life and death was God's final revelation, his last word? Indeed, those who hold the direct revelation view of prophecy, tend to minimise the value of biblical preaching.

A final view suggests that prophecy was a gift given for the establishment of the early church before the full canon of scripture was complete. So that truth that was later inscripturated was made available to the church in oral form before it became available in written form.

The Aim of Worship

Do these many interpretations mean this passage is of no practical value? No! We can ask what Paul considered to be the important effect of this early prophetic gift? cf v3 It strengthened, encouraged and comforted the people of God. It did so because it was a clear, authoritative and understandable communication.

Paul wanted the church services to be structured in such a way that Christian people would be built up. What is the churches purpose in gathering together today? Is it entertainment? Is it emotional release? Is it a social outing? Paul's answer is unequivocal. It is that Christians might be built up in their faith!

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The Aim of Worship

This leads on to our second question. How is this edification achieved? The situation in Corinth left a lot to be desired. Those with the gift of ecstatic speech were using that gift in a particular way in the church services. Doubtless it made them feel great and gave them a spiritual high but it left many quite isolated and downcast. They could make no sense of what was going on. That which is unintelligible cannot build up the church. Paul reinforces this point using 3 illustrations:

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How is Edification Achieved

First, in v7 he describes various musical instruments. Speaking in tongues in public worship is like attempting to play a tune on just one note. Not a very enjoyable experience for those listening. You need hear notes of different pitch in order to make any meaning out of a piece of music. If our worship is to be meaningful then it must be comprehensible.

It is our understanding of God’s person and saving work that ignites our hearts with praise.

How is Edification Achieved

However, when the mind is bypassed an unhealthy emotionalism can develop. A point Paul makes in v14 where the contrast between intelligible speech and ecstatic utterances is said to run in parallel with an alert and passive mind.

Emotional experience that is uncontrolled by the mind needs to be cautioned against. Perhaps this should cause us to evaluate, what at times can be the mindless handclapping and repetitive singing of our own day!

How is Edification Achieved

Paul’s second illustration is a military one cf v8... An army's effectiveness in the day of battle is dependant upon the trumpeter sounding the correct signals. An unintelligible toot would soon result in confusion. Now how is the church to become effective in God's service? Only when it hears a clear sounding note. People respond to clear incisive speech.

Unintelligible tongues will not prepare the church for battle, they cannot clearly communicate the direction that the church should be taking. Plainness of speech is necessary for that.

How is Edification Achieved

Paul’s third illustration in v9-11 concerns culture shock. Nothing makes a person feel that they do not belong as much as not understanding what is going on around them. Enter a new country not knowing the language or customs and a terrible sense of alienation can be experienced.

A similar sense of alienation was being experienced in Corinth. Some felt like foreigners in church because they couldn’t understand the tongue speakers who were more intent on self-gratification than mutual edification.

The supreme test of our spirituality is whether we are ‘in-turned’ or ‘out-turned’. Do we cater for ourselves or others?

How is Edification Achieved

Wasn't Paul's criticism just sour grapes? Imagine someone in Corinth saying, "He’s jealous and saying these things because he doesn't have our gift". But in v18 Paul says he spoke in tongues more than they did. Perhaps the fact he had to tell them that indicates that he chose not to use this gift in public worship. Paul’s preference was to speak 5 words intelligibly rather than 10,000 in an unknown tongue.

The principle governing Paul’s worship is, "what will be most useful to all". To be useful, worship must be intelligible. How can this principle shape our worship practices today?

How is Edification Achieved

Paul's final question asks, what effect does our worship have on others? Is it beneficial? What effect did tongues have on believers, who lacked this gift cf 16.. They were unable to say "Amen" to what they heard. Its important for the Christian to be able to say on hearing a prayer or a sermon, "Yes Lord, that's what I want".

But some believers were being denied the opportunity of saying that. They were frozen out of worship by others who were elitist in their ecstatic worship. They made their brethren feel like country bumpkins. Anything in worship that baffles the majority of hearers while tickling the tastes of a minority needs to be scrutinised

How does Worship affect Others

In v21-22 concern is expressed about the effect which unintelligible tongues may have on the speaker himself. Paul quotes from Is. 28 in order to illustrate the danger of despising God’s clear revelation [prophecy] in favour of an unintelligible utterance [tongues]. In the Isaiah passage God warns Israel that since they'd despised the mild, plain teaching of his servants the prophets, then it would be through the lips of foreign conquerors that they would discover the folly of their unbelief.

How does Worship affect Others

Apparently there were those in Corinth who saw tongues as a sign of their superior spirituality. They are reminded that in some circumstances tongues can be a sign of divine displeasure [as in the Isaiah passage]. Was the Corinthians’ perverse pursuit of the supernatural a sign that they were not prepared to receive the plain, intelligible saving word of God?

Paul is saying that there is something suspicious about wanting a mystical/ unintelligible element to predominate in the church service. It looks dangerously like an unwillingness to hear the clear word of God in rational terms.

How does Worship affect Others

Finally, Paul describes the detrimental effect ,which ecstatic speech would have upon either enquirers or strangers who attend out of curiosity or concern cf v23.. Those who spoke in tongues during public services thought that this display of the supernatural was just what the church needed to aid its evangelism. A wow factor!

This sort of thinking abounds today. There are those who believe that signs and wonders will attract people to the gospel. Others stress the need of the church to entertain. We are told we need much more razzamatazz to draw folk.

How does Worship affect Others

One writer describes these efforts:

“We attract people to Jesus by entertaining them. We ignore the truth that Jesus is not a pill needing a sugar coat. The medium is the message. And the medium is show-biz superbly crafted and presented but show-biz never the less. So Christianity is increasingly seen as [and despised by thinking people for being so] a specialised form of show-biz.”

How does Worship affect Others

In contrast, Paul argues in v24-25, that it is intelligible communication that wins the unbeliever. Under the sound of God's word the secrets and sinfulness of his heart is laid bare and he concludes, ‘God is in this place’. There is a mistaken notion held by some that unless the most basic gospel truths are preached, an overtly evangelistic address, then the unbelieving visitor cannot respond positively to God. Paul challenges that view.

When any portion of God's word is expounded with clarity and power, God can use it to draw people to himself. A friend made his first visit to a church since childhood and heard the minister preach on a passage describing the building of the tabernacle. He was converted to Christ in that service!

How does Worship affect Others

Paul has called us to answer some important questions. 1.What is our aim in worship? It should be to glorify God and to build Christians up in their faith. 2.How is this aim to be achieved? By using the means that God has provided for the strengthening, encouragement and comfort of his people. This means expounding the whole of God's word. 3.What effect do our services have on others? They will only be benefit if we refuse to be elitist, reject self-gratification and embrace a mutual upbuilding. Unbelievers will also benefit for they will be exposed to worship that engages their minds as God’s living word ministers its truth.

Conclusion